The world is hurting

Yoga Discussion General Yoga
#1

Last week I really struggled to deal with how much the world suffers ( ref: humans, animals, and nature). It made me feel very defeated, angry, hopeless, and helpless, like there is no point and suffering will always continue despite what I/ we do.

How do you guys deal with these feelings, if/ when they come up for you? I know there is a point, blah blah blah…but regardless of all the reasons I can give myself ,there still is a lot crap going on and will continue to go on in this world, and it overwhelms me at times, so much so that I begin to cry :frowning:

Am I just over sensitive, or unrealistic?

#2

I’m so sorry you’ve been struggling with this Omamana. But I’m glad you posted your thoughts and feelings here where you can hopefully gain some insight.

I come from a more Buddhist perspective on this. I often times turn to the Daiai Lamas book, “The Art of Happiness”. He talks a great deal about suffering. I grabbed my book and opened it to this page, with this quote, “Our attitude toward suffering becomes very important because it can affect how we cope with suffering when it arises. Now, our usual attitude consists of an intense aversion and intolerance of our pain and suffering. However, if we can transform our attitude towards suffering, adopt an attitude that allows us greater tolerance of it, then this can do much to help counteract feelings of mental unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and discontent.”

Suffering and the causes of suffering are dependent on the state of our own mind. If we change our mind, we can eliminate suffering. (one of the Noble Truths)

So for me, Omamana, it’s a matter of perspective. There is suffering, there is happiness, but these are attachments and are impermanent. Without knowing suffering can you really know happiness? We all struggle with this at one time or another. I know I do. More so if you work with people on a daily basis who are struggling. You have a very caring soul and that is such a wonderful thing. I try to focus on the impermanence of everything. It helps to deal with suffering knowing that there is happiness out there.

Take care my friend. Better days ahead!

#3

First there is no such animal as “over sensitive”. The very path of yoga is one of heightening our senses so that we are more feeling beings. This is the actual resolution to the problem you raise. When you look around and all your neighbors and peers are more sensitive it is far more likely they’ll not be tossing their garbage out of the car window as they speed down the freeway in their SUV.

Feelings are typically dealt with, in an Aurobindian context (Sri Aurobindo’s Philosophy) by learning to observe these feelings as they arise without feeding energy into them. This could be an entire decade of learning so it’s not expected one reads it and gets a few lines of instruction and becomes master of their own feelings. But the path itself should point the student toward an equanimity of feeling - one where you’re not too high from your “wins” nor too low from your “losses”.

I much prefer my students to be weepingly connected to their sensitivities than to walk around as though everything is fine. However both modes can be a form of hiding. I hide behind my stiff upper lip with a veneer of “everything’s okay” as an outer shell AND “Oh my goodness the world is imploding and there’s no hope for humanity”. They are positions of extreme.

Remedy? Typically is is deeply understanding that we are all here for a purpose, that purpose is one in which our soul chose this body in which to experience this living and the incorporation of karma yoga into one’s practice. This is folded in with Bhakti and Jnana yoga in Purna Yoga™.

But I need to clarify that karma yoga, in this context, doesn’t imply everyone has the same path of action and we should all be renouncing our possessions and chaining ourselves to the local nuclear reactor. Instead I am talking about the doing on the personal level. The action of the practice in the real world and the exploration, identification, and embracing of that unique purpose for being here.

Think globally, act REALLY locally.

#4

“Houston, we have a problem”

There are three kinds of suffering. Physical suffering, mental suffering and spiritual suffering. Each kind of suffering reveals a certain problem. If I put my hand in fire, it burns, it reveals that my hand is not suppose to be in fire, so the solution is to take it out. If I react with anger to certain stimuli, suppose somebody honking their horn at me, it reveals that I struggle with anger problems, so the solution is to manage my emotions. If I feel dispondent for no apparent cause at all and having ample success in the physical word and in relationships, it reveals that my fundamental nature transcends all of these and I must connect with it to solve the problem.

The suffering you see in this world is because of capitalism, which is spawned by Abrahamic ideology. The solution is to get rid of them. If the world you live in is not conducive to physical and mental happiness, then you cannot focus on your spiritual needs. Imagine trying to practice meditation during a war and you will see my point.

#5

"The suffering you see in this world is because of capitalism, which is spawned by Abrahamic ideology. "

hhm…I find this statement very naive. By the way I am from India(Born in a Hindu family but not religious though)

#6

Anybody who has studied the history and major influences on capitalism knows that Christianity had a massive influence in its development. Capitalism and Christianity went side by side, wherever capitalism was exported around the world through colonialism, Christianity followed suit immediately and then converted the natives to Christians. As a result the natives accepted capitalism and European culture and domination and eschewed their own. This practice goes onto this very date. The war in Iraq, for instance, has paved the way for massive missionary activity in Iraq, which is taking place as we speak. In India, Christians are encouraged to speak English and accept Western culture. They distance themselves from the native culture.

Capitalism is nothing more than the secular varient of the Abrahamic priesty system where the few would control the many and legitimate their power by justifying it by beliefs such as god-given-rights. In capitalism it is justified by evolution and survival of the fittest. Since its very inception Christianity had been used by the state for political power. They could not care less about the beliefs of Christianity, because they would often change them as they saw fit, as long as it supported political power.

The Indo-Euroean or Aryan cultures prior to being conquered by Abrahamic ideology all practiced a system similar to the caste system where society was organized according to functional needs and aptitude and goods were distrubted along those lines. Ever since Abrahamic religion came these societies become feudal where elite few had god given rights and owned all the resources, and the rest of society were peasants living in dire conditions.

Many sociologists have advanced arguments of how closely allied to Abrahamic ideology capitalism is, such as Max Webber works on the relationship between the Protestant work ethic and the rise of capitalism.

#7

I know what you mean… I have such moments as well (but maybe not so intense). If you are so sensitive to suffering in the world, I guess you have to be equally sensitive to love and sacrifice. Do you have such memories of events/people that make your heart grow? And you cry seeing such acts of love and selflessness? Maybe try to recall those memories in dark hours?

One of my memories is from my home city (my homecity is small, 3000 people, in eastern Poland). I was in a bookstore reading something. At some point, an old lady came inside. She looked fragile and was quiet, probably in pain because of some disease. She came to the salesman and asked whether books for her grandson arrived. When she learned that they didn’t she asked when they arrive and then left. And thats it. Rest of the story is in knowing the context: she was poor and sick. Her grandson was probably in primary school busy with his friends and plans for future. She wanted him to succeed in life, to be happy. But as older lady living in after war reality in a small city she didn’t understand the ways of the modern world. So she did what she could - she bought expensive books at bookstore hoping her grandson will learn more and have better chances. With humility, hoping to help him even a bit in his life. Spending a big part of her pension (rest of which she spends on medicines). For her it was a big sacrifice. For her grandson - probably just few more books he will have a glance at. It may be that her sacrifice and love will never be appreciated and understood. I like to think she would do it anyway, just because of the love of her grandson. Such memories are important to me - they are like little light in dark moments…

[QUOTE=omamana;36497]Last week I really struggled to deal with how much the world suffers ( ref: humans, animals, and nature). It made me feel very defeated, angry, hopeless, and helpless, like there is no point and suffering will always continue despite what I/ we do.

How do you guys deal with these feelings, if/ when they come up for you? I know there is a point, blah blah blah…but regardless of all the reasons I can give myself ,there still is a lot crap going on and will continue to go on in this world, and it overwhelms me at times, so much so that I begin to cry :frowning:

Am I just over sensitive, or unrealistic?[/QUOTE]

#8

[quote=omamana;36497]Last week I really struggled to deal with how much the world suffers ( ref: humans, animals, and nature). It made me feel very defeated, angry, hopeless, and helpless, like there is no point and suffering will always continue despite what I/ we do.

How do you guys deal with these feelings, if/ when they come up for you? I know there is a point, blah blah blah…but regardless of all the reasons I can give myself ,there still is a lot crap going on and will continue to go on in this world, and it overwhelms me at times, so much so that I begin to cry :frowning:

Am I just over sensitive, or unrealistic?[/quote]

Dear Omamana,

My beloved teacher, Sri Durga Devi, used to tell us to give praise and thanks for our most difficult of circumstances as well as the more pleasureable and easy ones. And then to bless it.

It took me a good few years to do it and to learn the value of this very simple action and how it influenced my own mental and emotional state under such circumstances. To really live a life of gratitude even in the face of adversity is not easy, but we can make baby steps. When I see and experience (and in my country there is plenty of opportunity for this due to poverty and other circumstances) such adversities I always give praise and thanks for my own good fortune and the grace I have received to be in another situation, then for the experience and then I bless the situation/person/animal.

To give praise and thanks simply say inwardly I give praise and thanks for such and such situation/emotion etc. x3.
To bless: I bless and bless and bless situation/person/animal and I surround them/him/her/it with all my love, light, peace and harmony.

I will include you for a while on my blessing list as well.

#9

I’ve removed a few posts in this thread because I don’t want every thread on this forum becoming “my religion versus your religion”. Please don’t be sidetracked with that debate here.

Carry on.

#10

[QUOTE=lotusgirl;36499]Now, our usual attitude consists of an intense aversion and intolerance of our pain and suffering. However, if we can transform our attitude towards suffering, adopt an attitude that allows us greater tolerance of it, then this can do much to help counteract feelings of mental unhappiness, dissatisfaction, and discontent."
So for me, Omamana, it’s a matter of perspective. There is suffering, there is happiness, but these are attachments and are impermanent.[/QUOTE]

What you mentioned above has really resonated with me. I am very tolerant to the pain and suffering of others but when it comes to my own pain and suffering I am intolerant, thank you for highlighting this to me, and reminding me that these are all impermanent attachments!

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;36501]…observe these feelings as they arise without feeding energy into them. This could be an entire decade of learning so it’s not expected one reads it and gets a few lines of instruction and becomes master of their own feelings. But the path itself should point the student toward an equanimity of feeling - one where you’re not too high from your “wins” nor too low from your “losses”.[/QUOTE]

‘Equanimity of feeling’, for me, is very difficult to achieve. When I practise this I feel like I’m switching my feelings off and that I don’t care, or on the reverse I feel like I can’t get excited or overjoyed over things. How does one practise this quality without becoming almost robotic, for lack of a better word?

[QUOTE=InnerAthlete;36501]Think globally, act REALLY locally.[/QUOTE]

I like this!

[QUOTE=Pawel;36553]…I guess you have to be equally sensitive to love and sacrifice. Do you have such memories of events/people that make your heart grow? And you cry seeing such acts of love and selflessness? Maybe try to recall those memories in dark hours?[/QUOTE]

Yes, I have had many such experiences, but it makes me feel bad that I have so much to be grateful for when so many other people always suffer and struggle through life. I also get annoyed that so many people just don’t care or totally disregard what goes on in the world. Again, like Lotusgirl said, I need to let go of these impermanent attachments/ thoughts.

[QUOTE=Pawel;36553]…One of my memories is from my home city (my homecity is small, 3000 people, in eastern Poland). I was in a bookstore reading something. At some point, an old lady came inside. She looked fragile and was quiet, probably in pain because of some disease. She came to the salesman and asked whether books for her grandson arrived. When she learned that they didn’t she asked when they arrive and then left. And thats it. Rest of the story is in knowing the context: she was poor and sick. Her grandson was probably in primary school busy with his friends and plans for future. She wanted him to succeed in life, to be happy. But as older lady living in after war reality in a small city she didn’t understand the ways of the modern world. So she did what she could - she bought expensive books at bookstore hoping her grandson will learn more and have better chances. With humility, hoping to help him even a bit in his life. Spending a big part of her pension (rest of which she spends on medicines). For her it was a big sacrifice. For her grandson - probably just few more books he will have a glance at. It may be that her sacrifice and love will never be appreciated and understood. I like to think she would do it anyway, just because of the love of her grandson. Such memories are important to me - they are like little light in dark moments…[/QUOTE]

This is such a simple but sweet story. If only we can learn to treat everyone like we would treat those closest to us.

[QUOTE=Pandara;36555]
To give praise and thanks simply say inwardly I give praise and thanks for such and such situation/emotion etc. x3.
To bless: I bless and bless and bless situation/person/animal and I surround them/him/her/it with all my love, light, peace and harmony.

I will include you for a while on my blessing list as well.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for your practical advise Pandara, I am going to use this.
Thank you also for your blessing. :smile:

#11

Omamama, I can certainly relate to your feelings. It can be overwhelming sometimes can’t it?

I tend to do as InnerAthlete has suggested and “act locally”. For me, I am not as able to help someone across the world, but am VERY able to help my neighbour. I like to use the “pay it forward” thought. If I am helpful to my neighbour, they may in turn help someone else and so on and so on until everyone receives help they require.

Putting that good energy out into the world cannot help but bring peace and harmony IMO.

#12

A friend of mine who is a therapist once shared some words of wisdom:

EXPECTATIONS ARE THE DEATH OF SERENITY

Let that resonate a bit.

#13

[QUOTE=David;36557]I’ve removed a few posts in this thread because I don’t want every thread on this forum becoming “my religion versus your religion”. Please don’t be sidetracked with that debate here.

Carry on.[/QUOTE]

Thank you I am glad you did.

#14

[QUOTE=lotusgirl;36600]
EXPECTATIONS ARE THE DEATH OF SERENITY[/QUOTE]

The bain of my life! :stuck_out_tongue:

#15

Glad you liked it. It has been my mantra for many years now!